Full Circle

Is Euchre Spiritual? 

Several years ago, a close friend of mine in the church, Howard Hickman asked if their small group could play Euchre.  I remember being nervous about my answer.  I stated that I would prefer that they not play cards in the lobby.  Some people had problems with Christians playing cards.  He was so compliant and that was the end of that.  Now what do I believe?

Wow have I changed.  I was afraid that some serious old fashioned Christian might get offended.   I put the law (unspoken rules and regulations) on the whole group.  I actually had the whole church under the law because of my fear of people.  It sure does feel free to enjoy a great night of Christian fellowship with friends.  Friday night we met at friends for a Euchre Party.  Was the sin on the face of the King of Hearts?  Poor guy, maybe it is the joker.  Why do we put such pressure on us to do somethings and not others because of what someone would think.

Here is the take away.  When there is nothing immoral or nothing that invokes bad character, we shoud ask oursleves why something is somehow prohibited.  Let’s ask the Father what He thinks.  I have got to know some Heartlanders in the church better through Euchre than seeing them and talking to them on Sunday morning.   WOW I LOVE FREEDOM.  Let’s be open to the Holy spirit to guide us and not old fashioned rules..  OK, DEAL THE CARDS.

OK let me know what you think.   Are there any other sacred cows out there tromping down your tomato plants?

Old man, New man

Pastor Herb has been preaching on the awesome grace of God, and has enough “ammunition” to take us through the summer with this theme. Sometimes his messages make one have to respond with “ouch!”. As in “hit a nerve”.

This past week was one in which I was reminded that there is still a lot of the “old man” left in this old man.  My world is not one that easily revolves in the electronic cosmos. I lost my IPod somewhere between Missouri and home during our recent motorcycle trip. This necessitated getting a replacement, since it is my “Juke Box” on long rides. This also meant that I had to reload the almost 20 hours of music on the new IPod. Hence began the saga that opened up the old man’s nature. 

I am a very patient individual…in most cases.  But electronic stuff frustrates me.  Those electrons disappear into the ether, and are untraceable…at least to me. I had a revelation that I needed to reload ITunes on the PC to start the whole process.  In the midst of this, Microsoft started to download “updates”, which then sabotaged my pc, and it stopped responding to me. (Did I anger it, somehow)? This led to the necessity to reload my operating system onto my Dell laptop.

I said I’m technically challenged, right?  Instead of just reloading Vista, I goofed up and completely reloaded it, wiping out everything on the laptop. Once I (eventually) reloaded other programs and files back in, it stopped letting me on the net. Can we say increased frustration?

My normally patient demeanor soured into a morose, bummed out old dude, with a sour disposition. I may have rather stayed in bed, covered up my head and remained there until the rapture. What I did not need was more frustration.  What I really needed was a cart-load of grace.  Not ordinary grace, mind you, but grace right from the throne! Special dispensational grace.  The kind that covers up your naked, boorish, natural-man attitudes.

God blessed me with a great brother, with infinite understanding and tolerance for an electronic ignoramus, and pulled me out of the fire, got me on the web again, and exhibited abundant grace to me. And I was so prolifically reminded that I still have a carnal nature that is not entirely (or even maybe, a bit less than perfectly???) redeemed. 

I needed grace.  I needed reminded that grace was available, and that there are still large deposits of the “old man” lurking within this man.

Thank you Pastor Herb for bringing us to the place of remembering that we are saved, but still being saved!

Gary Leary,Assistant Pastor, Church of the Heartland Plymouth

Kids Camp

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD:

This was a life changer. Awesome Praise and Worship, Mud slides, swimming, smores, campfires, treasure hunts, new friends, great food, made this the beginning of the best summer yet. 

 

 THROUGH THE EYES OF A COUNSELOR

 

Spending time with excited boys and girls is the best time I could have spend anywhere. To see children change before my eyes, wow. Can’t wait until next year to be a camp counselor again.

 

 FROM MY EYES 

As the leader and consultants to several pastors and leaders, this was a high point for me. Chris Miller, Church of the Heartland’s lead children and youth leader, was heading to Uganda for a mission’s trip along with 13 others including her husband and son. The mission in Uganda is centered around ministry to children and children’s pastors and leaders. This put Chris as a main speaker and missions leader. I saw a week before camp that Chris was overwhelmed so I volunteered to oversee the camp. I got to watch Leigh Anne Runkle as camp director do an excellent job. The camp was so well organized that everything went smooth with out Chris but with the people that Chris had trained. NOW THIS IS SUCCESS. If an event goes great even in the absence of the main leader.  All I did was observe a great camp.

GREAT WORK CHRIS BUT GREATER WORK TO THE TEAM THAT MADE THIS ALL POSSIBLE.

Thanks for all the great input from the cooks, musicians, counselors, directors and the wonderful kids.

I want to go next year.